Murder Defendant Gets Trial Date in April 2023

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A Baltimore man charged with murder had his trial date set before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn on Dec 2.

Defendant Bryon Lewis, who is represented by James Sweeting III, was presented a plea offer of life, suspending all but 60 years with six years of supervised probation for first-degree murder; in addition, a sentence of 20 years without the possibility of parole.

Counsel said they would meet to discuss the plea following the hearing.

According to the Baltimore Police Department, Lewis, 40, was arrested on Dec. 8, 2021, and charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person, and two counts of possessing a firearm with a felony conviction in connection with the murder of 32-year-old Shammarh Jenkins.

On the night of the incident, officers were called to the 2200 block of Reisterstown Road at approximately 9:29 p.m. for reports of shots being fired. Once there, officers found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound.

Jenkins was playing cards in front of his home when the suspect approached, the two talked, and a shot was fired without warning, according to police.

During the hearing, Baltimore Witness learned the defendant worked in the courthouse and was familiar with several judges. Judge Phinn attempted to work around this by assigning a newer judge that may have been less familiar with the defendant.

Judge Phinn scheduled Lewis’s trial on April 11, 2023, with Judge Jeffrey Geller presiding.